Sochi ‘as safe as the rest of Russia': Ambassador tries to ease fears as terrorists threaten to strike Olympics

Amid increasingly ominous warnings that Islamist terrorists might attack next week’s Winter Olympics, Russia tried to ease fears on Sunday, saying the games would be as safe as any others.

The Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, defended the choice of Sochi as the Olympic venue and reassured those attending that the southern resort town was “as safe as the rest of Russia.”

“So, it’s wonderful place for Olympics, first. Secondly, it’s not close to war zone. There is no war zone in Russia,” the ambassador said in an interview on CNN in which he called terrorism a global phenomenon.

“But, we do not take it lightly so we have good planning. We have excellent specialists who I have working on it. We have put up pretty strong team that is working to deny terrorists any chance of success. And I am absolutely sure that we are going to succeed.”

The appearance followed blunt travel alerts issued by the U.S. and Canada.

Late Friday, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney and the ministers of state of foreign affairs and sport said the games were an “attractive” terrorist target and that airports and border crossings were “particularly vulnerable.”

The extraordinary travel advisory said the “most likely threat” to the event was Imarat Kavkaz, an umbrella group for various armed factions fighting to impose their harsh version of Islamic law in the North Caucasus region east of Sochi.

The U.S. State Department also warned about a suspected “black widow” who was being sought in Sochi. The term refers to the wife of a dead terrorist who is herself plotting a suicide bombing.

Bud Mercer, the RCMP officer who was in charge of security at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, told CTV he believed the sporting venues and athletes’ villages would be secure. “I think it’s the rest of Sochi that will create the challenge,” he said.

While security has been a concern at Olympic events since Munich in 1972, when Palestinian terrorists murdered 11 Israeli athletes, it is a particular issue at Sochi because of its close proximity to an active insurgency led by armed Islamists who share Al-Qaeda’s commitment to extreme violence.

In a video last July, IK leader Doku Umarov called on his followers to attack the Olympics. That was followed last week by a second video threatening the games by the terror group Ansar al-Sunna.

The government said it was “working with the appropriate Russian government agencies as well as like-minded allies” to safeguard the Olympics but also bluntly suggested that those thinking of attending should think twice.

“Canadians should be aware that, although the host country will have special security arrangements in place at Olympic venues, this does not eliminate the risk of terrorist attacks,” Mr. Blaney said. “The decision to travel despite these concerns rests with the traveller, and such decisions should be considered carefully.”

A confidential Canadian intelligence report obtained by the National Post last month called Umarov a “fervent Islamist” who subscribes to al-Qaeda doctrine that legitimizes the killing of Western civilians.

While he had called off the targeting of civilians in February 2012 amid bad publicity, Umarov lifted his moratorium six months ago and wants attacks on the Sochi Olympics, urging “maximum force … to disrupt these satanic games.”

According to a summary of the video in an intelligence report, he said: “They plan to hold the Olympics on the bones of our ancestors, on the bones of many, many dead Muslims buried on our land by the Black Sea. We as mujahedin [soldiers of God] are required not to allow that, using any methods that Allah allows us.”

Titled “Advice for Canadians Attending Sochi 2014 Winter Games,” the advisory said Ottawa would have consular services available but that travelers “need to take responsibility for their own safety” and should use the Registration Service for Canadians Abroad program.

“Canadians travelling to the Sochi 2014 Winter Games should take sensible precautions and maintain a high level of vigilance and be aware of their personal surroundings at all times and in all places. They should avoid demonstrations, exercise caution in public places, monitor local developments and follow the advice of local authorities,” said Lynne Yelich, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Consular services.